Deep empathy for flight attendants - giving gifts to balance things out?

[gentlegee1976]

Hi everyone,
I want to show some appreciation to the flight attendants on an upcoming trip. This is country number 11 that I am going to visit, and over my travels, I've developed a deep personal empathy for public service workers.

I have prepared four £10 Starbucks gift vouchers (one for each crew member on a short-haul flight) to hand over.

This will be done from BHX whenever my finances allow me to. Along with the gift cards, I’ve written a note to explain why I'm doing this. This is the exact text of the note:

"Hi, please accept these Starbucks gift vouchers as a small gesture of my appreciation. There's one for each of you (4 in total).
I spent 10 years as a Birmingham bus driver, during which time I was spat at, punched in the face and headbutted, not to mention the endless disrespect and abuse that public service workers have to endure.
Although (as you already know) the overwhelming majority of people are polite and respectful, it's the small minority that can really ruin your day.
I'm just trying to balance things out a bit and maybe brighten your shift up a little. I truly understand the problems that you face, and the fact that they're only getting worse.
Unfortunately, 12-hour+ workdays are all too familiar to me as well. Please buy yourselves a nice breakfast, you deserve it. I appreciate your hard work, and recognise that you do a difficult and demanding job."

My question for the board is: will this small gesture do to try and balance out the endless problems that they have to deal with?

Has anyone done something similar, or do we have any cabin crew on here who can advise? They'll be given to the first attendant I see in an envelope (discreetly) when first boarding. They'll understand when they open it.
Thanks in advance.

This can't be for real?

If it is it's just so patronising! Just be normal, polite and smile and say thank you when you get off.

That was your sons choice though. Maybe he should have joined the RAF instead. On the job training 😊
Regarding the coffee vouchers, its a nice gesture which I'm sure will be appreciated. Its not a job I would like, especially long haul flights.
Nowhere near as "glamorous" as many think, according to a friend of mine who rexently quit

It is a kind gesture ,but seems a little OTT to me.You say you have visited 11 countries .With respect thats a fairly average number TBH. The poor bus drivers in London, were striklng due to 44 degree heat in their cabs .which is dangerous .I would rather give to them! The airline staff are reasonably well paid and the jobs are fairly sought after too

Very odd post....seems made up just to get/see reactions.

Maybe better to set up a direct debit to charities that you deeply care about that way you are contributing and satisfying your own need to give back and doing it in a positive way.

Your offer to cabin crew, could be taken the wrong way...

Starbucks coffee is vile.

The voucher won’t do any harm but the note could, I’d feel both disturbed and offended to receive a note like that.

Honestly don’t do this. You’ll just embarrass yourself.
Imagine everyone on a plane handing out gifts, it would be a nightmare

This. I mean, 11 countries.. My kids had probably done 11 countries by the age of 11.

There is something very wrong with this post. And the last one that was the same.

That note is disturbing. You are making it about YOU, not them. And in a way that sucks energy out of anyone reading it. It’s extremely rude to hand someone a note like thayt when they are about to concentrate on doing their job.

My question for the board is: will this small gesture do to try and balance out the endless problems that they have to deal with?

Will a one-off, low value Starbucks voucher negate all the problems they will deal with throughout their careers? Yes absolutely!! 🥴

This whole thing is bizarre, OP… flight attendants are not poor starving souls, and countless people have demanding and low paid jobs where they are subjected to difficult service users so it’s ridiculous you’ve singled them out.
And as the nurse above said you could really hack them off by implying you pity them.

Why flight attendants? Why not a supermarket worker or a cleaner? I work for the LA and got called a "fucking bitch" on a call yesterday. Where's my voucher?

Tbh if I was handed a note like that on a fucking plane, I would see it as a disturbed person and notify someone.

Although (as you already know) the overwhelming majority of people are polite and respectful, it's the small minority that can really ruin your day.

That would be you.

You should definitely board a plane in September and immediately hand envelopes containing Goodness knows what to the flight staff.

Good luck. I hope you enjoy being manhandled.

You feel sorry for them, yet you are giving them Starbucks vouchers! You are punishing them instead of rewarding. Starbucks coffee is rancid.

Written by ChatGPT

Sorry op I think it would be a bit weird to do this. You can just say a genuine ‘thank you’ to them in person after your flight. They may even have rules not being able to accept gifts from the public. I had this rule in a previous role I was in.

Also, if you do this before the flight takes off (I missed that part in my original reply) it smacks of bribery.

The way to balance things out is to be bloody normal, smile and say thank you!

This is weird, and you're not doing it for them, you're doing it for you! Along with this post it's desperate virtue signalling and fishing for praise 🙄

The way to recognise good customer service is to email the feedback email or the customer service email and say - I was sitting in seat 12A on the flight from LHR to Vienna on 28th September. I was looked after by Alex, Sam and Ali, who were professional, courteous, empathetic, friendly (or whatever) and I want to make sure this positive feeback gets back to their manager".

Not weird letters and weird vouchers.

It's a bit OTT. Like it's really seemingly inserting yourself as a main character in their lives when you're really not part of it at all. They're just at work. Doing a job they probably mostly really enjoy.

You seem to want to tell strangers about how you were abused in your job but that's not especially helpful to them. It may be cathartic for you.

Just hand over the gifts simply saying these are to thank you. I mean I would much prefer cash to Starbucks. They probably get litres of it or similar for free while working anyway. But just do it without such a hoo ha.

Echoing the majority, yes, can't you just be polite and courteous? Don't make a mess. Tidy up your rubbish and hand it to them when they come along with the bin bags. Don't get drunk. Smile politely, listen when they do the safety demo (so many chat over it - so rude). That's all you need to do. Say thank you when you get off, hello when you get on. Basic manners go so far.

Anything else is just so weird.

Hmm whilst agreeing a gift isn’t necessary, these posts seem mean spirited and belittling.

This definitely seems more about you than them. Smacks of giving a coffee to a rough sleeper and filming it for likes.

I get where you are coming from.
i always take some chocolates and give to cabin supervisor on boarding with a “thank you for taking care of us”. I then sit in my seat and that is it.
i give on boarding so they can have a treat between service and so I don’t have to try to find space in my seat area!
Maybe just give vouchers with a thank you and no note.

Oh Dear Lord!
This is bullshit
AI based on those " empathetic" read Narcs who send other passengers bags of crap to apologise for being on a flight with a baby
" look at meee, I gave birth"

This is not empathy,its projection

"The way to recognise good customer service is to email the feedback email or the customer service email "

^^This ...

Having a nice letter on file from a satisfied customer is well worth having especially at those airlines who like a high level of cabin crew churn..